DEN83AA019

NTSB accident investigation · Piper 601P · Fountain, CO · November 13, 1982

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
November 12, 1982, 23:03 local (Nov 13, 1982, 06:03 UTC)
Place
Fountain, CO
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3641TPiper 601P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Status
Completed · report November 12, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19821112059679A
Case key
70731

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightCruise - normal
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionDescent - uncontrolled
Light condition - nightFactor
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededCause
FatiguePilot in commandFactor
FatigueCopilot/second pilotFactor
Other psychological conditionPilot in command
Impairment(alcohol)Copilot/second pilot
Impairment(drugs)Pilot in command
Impairment(drugs)Copilot/second pilot
Flight control,aileron - overload
Flight control,aileron - separation
Wing,spar - overload
Wing,spar - separation
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

After taking off at aprx 2250, the acft was identified on radar & observed to climb on course to an alt of 10,700 ft. the acft then descended thru 10,500 ft & the crew reported they would maintain that alt. At about 2301 the acft was about 5 mi se of Colorado springs,CO & at 10,300 ft when radar contact was lost. The acft crashed in that area in a nearvertical descent. The outboard 8 ft of the right wing had separated in flight & impacted about 1/4 mi from the main wreckage. The right aileron had sheared in 3 pieces also, & was found near the failed wing. There was evidence that the the wing had yielded to a down & up loading (1 cycle) when it separated upward & rearward. All fracture surfaces had evidence of overload failures except the aileron control linkage which was further damaged on impact & could not be evaluated. Both plts were using medication that was contraindicated for use by airmen, & both plts had little sleep during the previous 48 hrs. Before the flt the plt seemed agitated & the coplt had an odor of beer.

Aircraft

Registration
N3641T
Reported as
Piper 601P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
61PO81880634
Airframe hours
948
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Denver Charters, Inc.
Registered owner
W.D. Harrington
Departed
PUB · Pueblo, CO
Destination
APA · Englewood, CO

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
7,200 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
Wind
20° at 6 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Temperature
68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
COS, 5 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.